[joe budden] uh, pump it up, you came to get it crunk a dame to get her drunk, you came to get it on that’s when it all got started (i mean) back then i wasn’t so cold-hearted (c’mon) with every stanza came an extravaganza for every question he got one less answer i was tryin to be more than cool now it was before that, maybe boardin school that was back when i would wanna danger myself maybe it was just to entertain myself i don’t need help, i could change myself f*ck y’all, i ain’t gotta explain myself just around the corner, i can hear footsteps then we can get on the only n*gg* in the hood left so child that ain’t listenin ain’t mine for 28 years been a prisoner of the mind am i

[chorus: joe budden] now i lay me down to sleep (and i) i pray the lord my soul to keep (if i) if i should die before i wake (then what?) i pray the lord my soul to take (i mean) now i lay me down to sleep (and i) i pray the lord my soul to keep (if i) if i should die before i wake i pray the lord my soul to take

[joe budden] look, welcome everybody into greater of self but claim center even when he can win that n*gg* won’t surrender bull’s fault, put the wheels in motion i felt every emotion except devotion message in a bottle in the bottom of the ocean but i can’t swim, d*mnit i can’t win, uh so i don’t care how you rate me it’ll take a long time to evaluate me so if, this be the last time you hear me (n*gg*) just know i got a loved one near me (n*gg*) please don’t cry, let her eye get teary a n*gg* good, finally i’m somewhere care-free past is frightenin but the future’s scary and i’m, gettin to the point that i fear me in a cl*ss all alone, don’t compare me but i, blame god, this is where he steered me i mean

[chorus]

[joe budden] look, they tell me the eyes is the windows to a man’s soul what you happen to see a n*gg* can’t con-trol … and i’ve turned a deaf ear to any n*gg*, anybody that’ll get my head clear why shake the dice if you never gon’ roll ’em? i told ’em that the straight jacket can’t hold him i ain’t psycho, don’t belittle me now it’s just a t*tle cause they couldn’t figure me out if you give a d*mn when sh*t hits the fan please know anything i ever did a n*gg* planned tryin to better, high as ever as i learn how to lie to a lie detector still i’m damaged say if you stay in that boat long enough you see where the land is so i’m right where i need to be please believe it, believe it please let’s get on our knees